Diplomacy and Foreign Policy: Fatin Rustu Zorlu and Leadership in Cyprus Policy

Diplomacy is one of the most effective tools to achieve a country's foreign policy goals and needs. The influence and role of diplomats in diplomacy, which is the art of conducting foreign policy with its peaceful content, is of considerable importance. The Island of Cyprus has had a very important place in Turkey's foreign policy, especially since the 1950s. In the face of internal and external developments on the island, Turkish diplomacy has tried to effectively achieve the goals set by Turkey. Fatin Rustu Zorlu, who was Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs at that time, was institutionally and individually influential in shaping the present and most importantly the future of Cyprus. In the study, the role and importance of Fatin Rustu Zorlu in Turkey's Cyprus policy is discussed. In this context, Margeret Hermann's leadership prototypes analyzes were used. Among these analyses, charismatic and strategic leadership analysis was evaluated through Fatin Rustu Zorlu's influence on Cyprus policy. Memoirs of people who worked closely with Zorlu constituted an important source in the study. In this context, it has been evaluated with an interpretive and analytical method that Zorlu is one of the most important determinants of Turkey's Cyprus policy, both institutionally and individually, in terms of its processes and results.